Apparatus for releasing coke oven doors



Feb. 18, 1958 G. HENSELEIT 2,823,939

APPARATUS FOR RELEASING com: OVEN DOORS Filed Dec. 13, 1952 52 a; I 63 Hg 1 2 7 8 6 57 I T 3 32 13 30 39 Yqflk V 37 l l l l l l l li H Q \g 21 38 3 5 50 46 #2 B A 3/ 33 I 7 u United States Patent O APPARATUS FOR RELEASING COKE OVEN DOORS Georg Henseleit, Essen, Germany, assignor, by mesne assignments, to Koppers Company, Inc., Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Delaware Application December 13, 1952, Serial No. 325,753

Claims. (Cl. 292-1) .The invention relates to apparatus for releasing coke oven doors which are held in their closed position by spring pressure exerted between closure latches, which engage retainer means therefor in the form of the door frame or hooks secured thereto, and the door body,- such apparatus including pressure-applying means, for compressing the closure springs and releasing the latching mechanism, which are adapted to be releasably connected to the door body by a coupling device in powerlocked fashion comprising oppositely movable members so that there is a closed system of forces acting on the closure springs but transmitting no counter thrust through the door and thus no thrust to the delicate sealing means thereof or to the frame of the unlatching mechanism, e. g. of the door-operating gear, which carries the pressure-applying means for compressing the springs. This all is an object of the copending application Serial No. 297,433 of Franz Doll, filed July 7, l952 now U. S. Patent No. 2,752,183 dated June 26. 1956.

In preferred forms of the invention described in the aforesaid copending application, the coupling device comprises claw means comprising a thrust member and an oppositely movable door-part engaging member, both axially movable in a straight line along a common axis in opposite directions which, when the carriage device carrying them, for example the door handling gear or carriage, is moved up into effective position before a door, automatically engage the unlatching mechanism with the latch mechaism of the oven door, to establish the power look under the effect of the mechanical pressure of the carriage against the oven door or of a supply of pressure medium (e. g. compressed air) to an expansible pressure device, for instance, one including a chamber defined by an envelope of expansible material. In the latter case as a result of the supply, or complementary supply, of compressed air to the expansible pressure device, the door closure springs are compressed, thus enabling the closure latches to be released from their books or other retainer means and the door removed from the oven chamber opening.

, The present invention is more particularly concerned with the use of mechanical means for operating the power lock for compressing the closure springs when the door is to be opened, and comprises the use of such mechanical means which are operable by a rotary, lever age, or excentric movement to produce the application of pressure to the oppositely movable members. Preferably these mechanical means are used only in substitution of the expansible body operated by compressed air as described in the parent patent aforesaid.

The present invention can be carried into effect by arranging a rotatable thrust member between the supporting or counter-part element and the oppositely movable part of the coupling device means which transmits the effort against the closure spring means, this rotatable thrust member being adapted to set up the requisite pressure by rotation thereof either on a screw-threaded part or so as to produce relative movement between wedge faces which are applied against one another.

In another form of the invention the pressure on the oppositely movable parts of the coupling device, and hence on-the closure springs is produced by means of a scissors-form lever mechanism operable by a rotatable eccentric.

Two preferred embodiments of the present invention are illustrated in the acompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is a longitudinal section through the pressureapplying coupling means connected to the carrier for the unlatching mechanism.

Figure 2 is a partial side view illustrating a second embodiment of the invention.

Figure 3 is a plan view of the apparatus seen in Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a partial view of a third embodiment of the invention.

The coke oven door, which is designated 1, has rigidly connected to its upper and lower parts a bearing 3, one only of which is illustrated in Figure 1, carrying the corresponding latch bolt 5. This bolt 5 supports a pack of plate springs 8, i. e. the aforesaid closure springs, which are applied against the bearing 3 and a movable thrust plate 31.

The bolt 5 also carries the latch 6 which, in the closed position, is pivotable on the bolt 5 to swing behind hooks connected to the door frame (but not illustrated in the drawings). This latch also has a screw-threaded adjustable bushing 32 which is applied against the thrust plate 31. The part of the latch bolt 5 which projects outwardly beyond the latch 6 is formed with an annular recess or groove 50 adapted to be engaged by an outwardly movable door-part engaging-member comprising pivoted coupling claws 13.

These claws 13 are mounted on pivots 39 at the end of a shaft 21 and have, in the vicinity of these pivots, inwardly directed lugs 40 which are adapted to abut against the head 30 of the latch bolt 5. The claws 13 are so constructed and are of such length that, when the lugs 40 thereof abut against this head 30, the outer ends of the claws are swung into engagement in the annular groove 50 in the latch bolts.

At'the same time, an inwardly movable thrust member comprising a cylindrical thrust element 33, which is mounted on the shaft 21 and is a capable of movement therealong in the direction of the door against the action of a return spring 42, is pushed against the bushing 32 of the latch 6. This element 33 may be composed of a pair of arms interconnected by an annular part 18.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figure 1 a rotatable member in the form of an annular plate or pressure element 51, which is loosely mounted on shaft 21 and is provided with wedge-form, inclined cam faces 52, is applied against the annular part 18 of the inwardly axially movable thrust element 33. Co-operating inclined wedge cam faces on a supporting element 53 of the outwardly axially movable door-part engaging member are arranged to act on the inclined faces 52 of the rotatable member in the form of the annular plate 51, and this element 53 serves to absorb the counter pressure which is exerted on the door 1 and bolt 5, through a nut 34 applied against member 53 and through the shaft 21, when the closure springs 8 are compressed by inward thrust of the thrust member 33.

The rotatable annular plate 51 is provided with peripheral spur teeth meshing with a spur wheel or pinion 54, this latter being rotated by a drive, illustrated symbolically by a drive shaft in the drawings, when the closure pressure of the springs 8 is to be suppressed, or

brought into action, in operation of the unlatching device.

The pressure-applying coupling means of the unlatching device is yieldably connected, by an extension 38 of the shaft 21 having a semi-spherical head 37, and by p ng w t a ar e sonveni nt y tannins P of the door-handling gear,;in-Cardan joi;nt fashion so'tha-t, in the event of slight axial misalignment, the pressure applying coupling device always engages with the door latch bolt. ,and, when withdrawnfrom engagement therewith, always returns to its original position.

To prevent rotation of the inwardly axially movable thrust element 33 and of the outwardly axially movable supporting element 53 of the door-part engaging member with the shaft 21 these two elements are provided with extensions .63 which are guided in axially displaeeable but non-rotary fashion by a guide ,64 ,connected ,to .the carrier frame 2.

When the spur wheel or pinion 54 is turned, the inclined wedge cam face 52 of the annular plate .51 runs over the corresponding inclined face of the supporting element 53., and as a result the .inwardthrust element 33 acts against the bushing 32 of the latch 6 and compresses the closure springs 8 while element 53 .exerts an equal counterforce outwardly on the door through its bolt part 5. A pressure for the same purpose can be similarly produced it", instead of providing co-operating inclined wedge cam surfaces 52, the annular element 51 is mounted, as in Figure 4, on a threaded boss rigidly connected to the shaft 21 as indicated at 51'.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figures 2 and 3 the pressure on the closure springs 8 is produced by a lever system. For this purpose, two pairs of levers 55 and 56 are articulated at opposed pivot points 57 and 53, respectively externally to each side of the supporting element 53 and of the annular part 18 of the thrust element 33. Each pair of levers 55 and 56 are interconnected scissors-fashion at a pivot 59, and the two levers 55 carry a transverse spindle 60 which passes through eccentrics 63 and is rotatably supported in arms 55.

Thisarrangement of the levers 5S and 56 provides for a uniform axial straight line movement of the inwardly movable thrust element 33 and prevents. jamming. For this, the outer end of the lever 56 carries a cam part 61 having a curved recess which is applied against the corresponding eccentric 63 so that, on rotation of the latter, the cam part 61 is pushed back and the thrust element 33 is thus forced forwards inwardly to compress the closure springs 8 while arm 55 urges the door-part engaging member 53 oppositely.

The eccentric movement can be produced by operation from the door-handling gear 2- through a linkage system indicated at 62' which rotates spindle 60 in arms 55.

The invention as hereinabove set forth is embodied in particular forms and manners, but may be variously embodied within the scope of the claims hereinafter made.

What I claim is:

1. Fastener apparatus for a coke oven door comprising: latches slidably mounted on a support axially of a doorway, and provided with a spring member for exerting the total closure pressure between the latch and a door to be latched thereby, with the axial support provided with an element for exerting a pull on the spring member and keeper means for coaction with grasping means for transmitting a pulling force to thespring member through the axial support for the latch, two oppositely movable reciprocable pressure heads, a spring Cardan joint carriage structure supporting the heads, as a single unitary whole, a shaft rigidly secured axially to one of said pressure heads'and slidably extending axially through the other of said two pressure heads, grasping elements pivotably mounted on the end of said shaft at a region beyond the other pressure head where the slidable shaft projects out of the same for coupling connection with keeper means on the axial supports for said latches, said grasping elements also having an abutting element in position to turn the grasping elements about their pivot into grasping engagement with a said keeper means when the unitary whole is pressed up against a said axial support for a latch on a coke oven door, said other pressure head having thrust member in position thereon for exerting an opposing thrust on the spring member for a said latch when the grasping means is in operative engagement with an axial support fora said latch for exerting a pull thereon, a rotatable member operable between said pressure heads with connections from said rotatable memher to the pressure head for said thrust member, on the one hand, and to :the pressure head for said door-part engaging member, on the other hand, for converting the rotary movement of said rotatable member into a straight line movement in opposite directions of said thrust and door-part engaging members, means operable from said carriage for imparting a rotary movement to said rotatable member, and said spring Cardan joint carriage structure normally urging one of the said thrust and door-part engaging members toward the other.

2. Fastener apparatus for a coke oven door comprising: latches slidably mounted on a support axially of a doorway, and provided with a spring member for exerting the total closure pressure between the latch and a door to be latched thereby, with the axial support provided with ;an element for exerting a pull on the spring member and keeper means for coaction with grasping means for transmitting .a pulling force to the spring member through the axial support .for .the latch, two oppositely movable reciprocable pressure heads, a spring Cardan joint carriage structure supporting the heads ,as a .single unitary whole, a shaft rigidly secured axially to one of said pressure heads and slidably extending .axially through .the other of said two pressure heads, grasping elements pivotably mounted on the end of said shaft at aregion beyond the other pressure head where the slidable shaft projects out of the same for coupling connection with keeper means on the axial supports for saidglatches, said grasping elements also having an abutting element in position to turn the grasping elements about their pivot into grasping engagement with a said keeper means when the unitary whole is pressed up against a said axial support for a latch on a coke oven door, saidother pressure head having thrust member in position thereon for exerting an opposing thrust on the spring member for a-said latch when the grasping means is in operative engagement with an axial support for a said latch for exerting a pull thereon, a rotatable member mounted for free rotation around said shaft in a plane intermediate the two pressure heads, and rotatable member, and complemental wedge-face cam elements respectively on said-one of said two pressure heads and on the rotatable member, for converting the rotary movement of said rotatable member into a straight line movement in opposite directions of said thrust and door-part engaging members, means operable from said carriage for imparting a rotary movement to said rotatable member, and said spring Cardan joint carriage structure normally urging one of the said thrust and door-part engaging members toward the other.

3. Coke oven unlatching apparatus as claimed in claim 2, and in'which the means for rotating the rotatable member COHIPIlSGSfl'SETleS of spur teeth on the periphery of the rotatable member, a drive pinion therefor, and a drive shaftfor the pinion.

4. Fastener apparatus for a coke oven door comprising: latches slidably mounted on a support axially of a doorway, and provided with a spring member for exerting the total closure pressure between the latch and a door to be latched'thereby, with the axial support provided with an element for exerting a pull on the spring member and keeper means for coaction with grasping means for transmitting a pulling force to the spring member through the axial support for the latch, two oppositely movable reciprocable pressure heads, a spring Cardan joint carriage structure supporting the heads as a single unitary whole, a shaft rigidly secured axially to one of said pressure heads and slidably extending axially through the other of said two pressure heads, grasping elements pivotably mounted on the end of said shaft at a region beyond the other pressure head where the slidable shaft projects out of the same for coupling connection with keeper means on the axial supports for said latches, said grasping elements also having an abutting element in position to turn the grasping elements about their pivot into grasping engagement with a said keeper means when the unitary whole is pressed up against a said axial support for a latch on a coke oven door, said other pressure head having thrust member in position thereon for exerting an opposing thrust on the spring member for a said latch when the grasping means is in operative engagement with an axial support for a said latch for exerting a pull thereon, a rotatable member comprising an eccentric mounted for rotation with a rotatable shaft, a two-part lever system with the levers arranged scissors-fashion, and with one part of the two lovers of the system being pivoted at one end thereof to the pressure head for the door-part engaging member and supporting at its other end the rotatable shaft for the eccentric, and the other part of the two levers of the system being pivoted at one end thereof to the pressure head for said thrust member and having a cam surface at its other end in camming relation with said eccentric, for converting the rotary movement of said rotatable member into a straight line movement in opposite directions of said thrust and door-part engaging members, means operable from said carriage for imparting a rotary movement to said rotatable member, and said spring Cardan joint carriage structure normally urging one of the said thrust and door-part engaging members toward the other.

5. Fastener apparatus for a coke oven door comprising: latches slidably mounted on a support axially of a doorway, and provided with a spring member for exerting the total closure pressure between the latch and a door to be latched thereby, with the axial support provided with an element for exerting a pull on the spring member and keeper means for coaction with grasping means for transmitting a pulling force to the spring member through the axial support for the latch, two oppositely movable reciprocable pressure heads, a spring Cardan joint carriage structure supporting the heads as a single unitary Whole, a shaft rigidly secured axially to one of said pressure heads and slidably extending axially through the other of said two pressure heads, grasping elements pivotably mounted on the end of said shaft at a region beyond the other pressure head where the slidable shaft projects out of the same for coupling connection with keeper means on the axial supports for said latches, said grasping elements also having an abutting element in position to turn the grasping elements about their pivot into grasping engagement with a said keeper means when the unitary whole is pressed up against a said axial support for a latch on a coke oven door, said other pressure head having thrust member in position thereon for exerting an opposing thrust on the spring member for a said latch when the grasping means is in operative engagement with an axial support for a said latch for exerting a pull thereon, a rotatable member mounted for rottion by cooperating screw threads around said shaft, said rotatable member being brought thereby in abutting relation with the other of said two pressure heads during rotation on said screw threads, said screw threads comprising threads attached to the rotatable member and companion threads on the shaft attached to said one of said two pressure heads, for converting the rotary movement of said rotatable member into a straight line movement in opposite directions of said thrust and door-part engaging members, means operable from said carriage for imparting a rotary movement to said rotatable mem her, and said spring Cardan joint carriage structure nor mally urging one of the said thrust and door-part engaging members toward the other.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,157,566 Potter May 9, 1939 2,157,567 Potter May 9, 1939 2,190,297 Salkvist Feb. 13, 1940 2,248,187 Otto July 8, 1941 2,278,243 Clements Mar. 31, 1942 2,442,348 Exum June 1, 1948 2,658,597 Jepson Nov. 10, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 471,775 Great Britain Sept. 10, 1937 OTHER REFERENCES Coke and Gas, June 1947, pages 175, 176. 

